Beirhope Alpacas Campsite

Alpacas are part of the character at Beirhope Alpacas Campsite, a small, tents-only site on a working farm at Hownam in the Scottish Borders. Private grass pitches give it an informal, back-to-basics feel, with farm animals rather than rows of touring vehicles shaping the setting. Campfires are permitted within fire pits, while dark skies make looking upwards worthwhile on clear nights. It is a place for visitors who enjoy sleeping under canvas and are comfortable with simple facilities.

The eight pitches comprise six standard pitches sharing an eco loo and two super pitches with their own private eco loo. There is a shared bucket shower and washing facilities, so expect a rustic arrangement rather than a conventional campsite shower block. An on-site shop stocks camping essentials, and pitches can be booked online through the campsite’s website. The combination of a small pitch count, privacy and alpaca neighbours gives Beirhope a distinctive farm-camping character.

For outings in the wider Borders, Dere Street offers walking with a historical thread: the old Roman road can be followed between St Boswells and the English border south of Towford, with access points separate from the campsite. Jedburgh Abbey makes a contrasting excursion, combining substantial medieval ruins with Romanesque and early Gothic architecture. Its recreated cloister garden and displays of early Christian carved stones add detail beyond the imposing abbey church itself.